Asia Business Observer

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Have you ever entertained the idea of going abroad to look for a job? You are not alone. According to the latest statistics, 7 out of 10 working Filipinos are ready to exchange their current jobs in the Philippines for a job abroad.

And among the top countries that Filipinos want to work in include Canada, Australia, United Kingdom and Dubai. Maybe because of the high salary base of the said countries and their excellent living conditions.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

It's really heartbreaking to know that in other countries, workers earn huge pay that allow them to live comfortable lives. In the Philippines, unless you are politician or a member of a business family, you will have a slight chance of living a comfortable existence.

In Singapore for instance, PhilippineNewsNetwork.com reported that fresh college graduates earn an average monthly starting salary of USD2,200. That is around P90,000 for a starting pay. Not even the president of the Philippines get that much salary a month.

Singapore practices "hyper wage". Which means workers are given huge salary so they will have more buying power, which in turn stirs the economy. If you have give a worker comfortable salary that will allow him or her to buy the latest gadgets or an expensive clothing, that worker will surely buy that gadget and that cloth.

That means, business will enjoy great sales because people have buying power. That's what we need in the Philippines - hyper wage. Raise the salary of the Filipino workers and the economy will surely further expand.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Forex or foreign exchange trading is becoming popular in the Philippines although not as popular as stock market trading. Well, these two types of financial trading might sound unfamiliar to you but these are actually the best alternative to banking or keeping your cash under your pillow.

To give my 50-cent's worth of knowledge about financial trading, I have recently launched a new website that talks about Forex Trading, Forex News, Stock market trading, asset management, and other financial and business news and topics.

Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will be on November 4, 5 & 6, 2013. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 1 piece passport size picture (colored with white background and complete nametag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2013-2016. Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

The date and venue for the oathtaking ceremony of the new successful examinees in the said examination WILL BE ANNOUNCED LATER, PRC said.

The Professional Regulation Commission announces the rescheduling of the Optometrists licensure exam from August 9-11, 2013 (Written), August 16-19, 2013 (Practical) to DECEMBER 2-4, 2013 (Written), DECEMBER 5-6, 2013 (Practical).

The licensure exam originally scheduled on August 2013 was indefinitely postponed due to vacancies in the Professional Regulatory Board of Optometry.

The required quorum has been met with the recent appointment of the new members of the Board. In a meeting after being sworn into office last September 5, 2013, the Board passed Resolution No. 2 dated September 24, 2013 re-setting the dates of the Optometrists written and practical examination.

The Professional Regulation Commission today announced that the deadline for the filing of applications for the October 29 – 30, 2013 Licensure Examination for Respiratory Therapists in Zamboanga City has been extended to October 18, 2013. Applicants who have earlier submitted their applications with incomplete documents are required to submit on or before October 23, 2013.

The failure of the prospective examinees to secure the necessary documentary requirements due to the prevailing hostile conditions in Zamboanga City has prompted the Professional Regulation Commission and the Professional Regulatory Board of Respiratory Therapy to extend the deadline for the filing of the applications for the said licensure examination.

On Friday, 11th of October, thousands of aspiring politicians will be trooping to the different Commission on Election (Comelec) offices around the country to file their certificate of candidacies (COCs) as they try their luck in dipping their hands into the field of "public service". Thousands of incumbents will also be heading to the Comelec as they will again try to woo constituents to vote for them.

The barangay election is a local election involving candidates who personally know each other. But according to the Comelec and the Philippine National Police, the barangay election is the most violent and the most bloody of all polls in the country. Election-related violence is expected in far-flung barangays, where candidates often go personal just to destroy the credibility of their opponents, and hopefully win votes.

We can expect members of the same family running against each other. Relatives hurling accusations against another relative, destroying not just the reputation of the opponent but of the entire family. Neighbors killing another neighbor just to win a barangay council seat. How sad, especially when you start thinking that these people are running in the name of "public service".

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 1,553 out of 5,665 passed the Certified Public Accountant Licensure Examination given by the Board of Accountancy in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan De Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo and Legazpi this May 2013.

Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will start on Wednesday, June 5, 2013 but not later than Friday, June 7, 2013. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 1 piece passport size picture (colored with white background and complete nametag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2013-2016. Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

Friday, January 25, 2013

ASIABrunei - Not Required for stay up to 14 daysCambodia - Not Required for stay up to 21 daysHong Kong - Not Required for stay up to 14 daysIndonesia - Not Required for stay up to 30 daysIsrael - Not Required for stay up to 90 daysLaos - Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 30 daysMacau - Not Required for stay up to 30 daysMalaysia - Not Required for stay up to 30 daysMaldives - Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 30 daysMyanmar - Visa can be obtained upon arrival with pre-approval letter requiredNepal - Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 150 daysPalestine - Not Required for undefined number of daysSingapore - Not Required for stay up to 30 daysSri Lanka - Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 30 daysThailand - Not Required for stay up to 30 daysTimor Leste - Visa can be obtained upon arrival up-to 30 daysVietnam - Not Required for stay up to 21 days

Monday, December 03, 2012

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Board for
Professional Teachers (BPT) announces that 25,136 elementary teachers
out of 50,997 examinees (49.29%) and 20,834 secondary teachers out of
47,892 examinees (43.50%) successfully passed the Licensure Examination
for Teachers (L.E.T.) given last September 30, 2012 in 22 testing
centers all over the Philippines.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Let's all pray for our brothers and sisters in the US as Superstorm Sandy is now moving in the Northeast with strong winds and heavy rain that have triggered massive blackout and flooding in affected areas.

Superstorm Sandy slammed into the New Jersey coastline with 80 mph
winds Monday night and hurled an unprecedented 13-foot surge of seawater
at New York City, flooding its tunnels, subway stations and the
electrical system that powers Wall Street. At least 16 U.S. deaths were
blamed on the storm, which brought the presidential campaign to a halt a
week before Election Day.

For New York City at least,
Sandy was not the dayslong onslaught many had feared, and the wind and
rain that sent water sloshing into Manhattan from three sides began
dying down within hours.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

We have created a new website that features the latest hotel, resorts, and airline news in Asia and around the world. Please visit www.hotelnewsasia.com for hotel updates, discounts, promos as well as airline fare discounts and more.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Medical Technologist Board Exam Results also known as the Medical Technologist Licensure Examination Results for March 2012 has been released. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 533 out of 804 passed the Medical Technologist Licensure Examination given by the Board of Medical Technology in the cities of Manila, Baguio and Cebu this March 2012.

Saturday, January 07, 2012

Cebu has been on a festive mood since last week as the entire Cebuano population gears up for the annual Sinulog Mardi Gras, a festival that celebrates the feast of the miraculous Sto. Niño de Cebu every third Sunday of January. This year, Sinulog falls on January 15 and everyone is ready for the celebration.

The police will be fielding 30,000 personnel to secure the Sinulog as authorities expect more than 3 million people to troop to the main Sinulog parade route this Sunday. Pagasa has already warned of a rainy Sinulog but I don't think that will prevent people from witnessing the festival.

Fuente Osmeña also been transformed into a plaza of shops and stores where people can munch on just about anything or buy stuff they can bring home. Head up a few meters and you will see that the front side of the Abellana National School is also occupied with stalls selling almost anything you can imagine.

Here's hoping that this year's Sinulog festival will be peaceful and orderly just like the previous celebrations. Afterall, the festival celebrates the feast of Sto. Niño and I don't think the Child Jesus will ever allow any negative events to take place during that day.

Friday, January 06, 2012

Too early to say but I can sense that the Department of Tourism has finally found the right slogan that will surely capture the interest of tourists. "It's More Fun in the Philippines", a catchy slogan formulated under the leadership of DOT's director Ramon Jimenez, the same marketing guy who instilled chicken joy into the minds of our children.

First off, I am actually against the move to change the DOT slogan "Wow Philippines", which was formulated during the time of then Sec. Richard Gordon. It was catchy and effective. Two words that have successfully drawn the Philippines into the world tourism map. And what an intelligent move then Secretary Ace Durano made when he retained "Wow Philippines" during his administration.

"Wow Philippines" successfully competed with "Malaysia, Truly Asia", "Amazing Thailand", and "Uniquely Singapore" until one man, just for the heck of introducing a new slogan, changed it to the controversial "Pilipinas, Kay Ganda!", which sounded like the title of an early morning TV show and whose graphics became even more controversial because it was found out to have been copied from a Polish tourism brochure.

But "Wow Philippines" is dead and "Pilipinas, Kay Ganda" suffered a heart attack even before it was officially printed in our tourism brochures. And because we can't revive "Wow Philippines", I am slowly becoming a fan of "It's More Fun in the Philippines". An honest and truthful answer to the question "Why should we go to the Philippines?". It's more fun here - the people are smiling, the beaches boast of pristine waters and white sandy shores, and there are plenty of fun activities to do in the 7,100 islands that comprise the entire country.

The DOT can advertise the new slogan over CNN or BBC, costly but proven-effective, just like what the other countries are doing, but I hope the country's tourism advertisements will not be followed by news of bombings, kidnappings, and beheading in Mindanao, which are not the kind of "fun" that we are trying to sell to international tourists.

Wednesday, October 05, 2011

I never got the chance to see Apple's Founder Steve Jobs in person. Well, I really never dreamed of meeting him in person because I know it was not going to happen. I'm just an ordinary journalist in the Philippines, a lover of gadgets sold in stores here (these gadgets are years behind compared to what are being sold in the US), and an ordinary man whom Steve Jobs will never be interested in meeting.

But I have been reading about him - his works, his extremely private life, and his genius that is now the heart and soul of Apple. I never got the chance to own an iPad, an iPhone, or even an iMac. Not even a second hand of these units. I don't have regrets though because I am a person who doesn't really spend beyond what my pockets will allow. And yet, I admire the gadgets that came from Apple although most of the time, these gadgets I admired were owned by friends and colleagues.

Tuesday, October 04, 2011

Are you having problems with hair fall or thinning hair? Have you seen some signs that you will be getting bald real soon? It's in the genes and if you know someone from within your family who is also having hair problems, then there is a big chance that you will have one soon.

In the US, millions of women are having problems with thinning hair. While baldness has long been associated with men, recent studies showed that women have also been having similar concerns - falling hair, thinning hair, receding hairline, baldness.

Sunday, May 01, 2011

US President Barack Obama announced that US troops killed terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden in an operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The US President said the operation came after several months of intelligence gathering and he ordered the attack a week ago after seeing enough reasons to finally launch a firefight to get Bin Laden dead or alive.

Saturday, April 30, 2011

No matter how long the street march will be and no matter how loud the speakers will sound, there won't be any wage increase announcement today, May 1, Labor Day. That was what government spokesmen announced as thousands of laborers troop to the streets today for the annual Labor Day rally.

First of all, the wage board tasked to determine the supervening events that will lead to a wage increase has not come up with a decision on whether or not there is really a need to increase the salaries even if it is clear that our minimum wage earners are struggling to provide for their families what with the series of fuel price hike and the increasing prices of basic goods.

Monday, April 25, 2011

I love travelling especially in the countryside to escape the daily grind of the city life. So when the Provincial Government of Cebu invited me to witness the Tostados Festival in the town of Santander, I immediately nodded without hesitation.

Santander is located on the southern most tip of Cebu. It's a quiet, laidback town blessed with several natural wonders, white-sandy shores, and warm, hospitable people. The town is a three-hour ride from the City but then I always love long road trips because I get to see the beauty of nature along the road - rice fields, old houses, century-old Acacia trees, and the greeneries in general.

Tostado is a local delicacy in the town. It's a home-baked cookie with delicious taste and the procedures and secret ingredients in making a really delicious tostado have been handed down from generations to generations.

At least 10 universities in the Visayas have filed a petition for an average of 10 percent tuition increase for SY 2011-2012. An official of the Commission on Higher Education (ChEd) said they cannot stop any university from implementing an increase in tuition for as long as the said university has complied with all the requirements set forth by ChEd.

Clearly, this is another burden on the parts of parents who are shedding blood, sweat, and tears just to send their children to school in the hope of giving them a brighter future in a country that has a dusty scene as a future. By next school year, more students will be forced to stop their education because their parents can no longer afford the rise in tuition.

It's summer officially, despite the torrential rains and reports about landslides and floods in other areas around the country. And when we mention summer, images of white sand beaches will surely conjure in the mind - the sands of Boracay, the waters off Dakak, the beaches of Cebu, and a lot more. The Philippines, being a tropical nation, offers more than just a plate of fun things to do, see, and experience this summer season.

And yes, I am still bias for Cebu when we start talking about beaches. And I don't mean just the beach resorts you will find in Mactan. Recently, I was able to tour around the entire province and witnessed the naturally beautiful white sand beaches that surround the entire island. Yes, these are beaches untainted by commercialism and are open for the public to enjoy.

Friday, September 10, 2010

My wife and I decided to venture into another small business that require small capital. I'm talking about opening a small shop selling authentic Italy 92.5 Silver jewelries - rings, necklace, bracelet, earrings, bangles, anklets and more. I also created a blog for this business at Silver925Philippines (click the link to go to the site)

92.5 Silver refers to the highest grade for silver jewelries. It's only 92.5 and not 100 percent silver because a grade of more than 92.5 will be so soft that it cannot be molded to create jewelries. Silver with 92.5 percent grade also do not stain, rust, or fade. It remains shiny with proper care.

We are looking for subdealers too. Our subdealers get 20% off the price of all our items. just go to silver925philippines.blogspot.com for more information. More pictures of our items will be posted in that site.

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Stakeholders of the country's tourism industry have been shedding blood and tears to promote the Philippines as a perfect getaway for tourists who want to enjoy tropical paradise and experience the combination of sun, sea, and sand. It seems that the efforts of the tourism players are paying off as the number of tourists coming into the country increased after the DOT managed to ward off the bad news that had been happening in Mindanao.

Suddenly, a former police officer, who was stripped of his badge and income, is staging a hostage drama that will surely hit the tourism industry straight in the eye. At least 20 Hong Kong nationals, who after reading the the travel brochures about the Philippines decided to come here for fun and leisure, are now being held hostage by the policeman inside the tourist bus infront of the Quirino Grandstand.

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Thought I'd veer away from my usual routine and create another blog about the place where I grew up and live. I am in Cebu City, the heart of the Philippines. Cebu City is a tropical paradise frequented by Europeans and Americans who want to scape winter and be in a place that offers sun, sea, and sand and can be accessed from their country in just a few hours.

I've launched today CebuTravelBlog, my personal travel blog that will chronicle my daily travels and experience in this little paradise of mine. It will feature the top beach resorts, the various hotels, the restaurants that offer delicious dishes, and a lot more.

If you are planning to visit the Philippines in the near future, try dropping by Cebu. Visit my new blog. Click this link >>> CebuTravelBlog

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Waiting for loved ones to arrive at the pier can sometimes be a daunting experience most especially when the vessel gets delayed for hours. But the time wasted in waiting can immediately be replaced by joy and excitement at the sight of a friend, a loved one, or a relative disembarking from the boat.

But what would it feel if your waiting takes several hours, even days only to find out that the boat your friend, loved one, or relative boarded has sank in the midst of the sea?

Reading about sea tragedies in newspapers is heart-breaking. Most especially if the tragedy has taken place just a few days before or after Christmas. In just a span of three days, two vessels sank in the country's sea water. The first one was caused by man's arrogance while the other was caused by man's negligence.

Arrogance because the collision between MB Catalyn B and a steel-hulled fishing boat in the waters off Cavite could have been prevented had one of the two captains veered away from the other. "Kung sino ang matigas sya ang panalo" was the attitude. But in the end, no one really won in the "pagmamatigas" of the captains. They could have just steered away from the other. But they stayed "matigas" and so the collision took place.

I joined PGMA in ordering the revokation of the licenses of the two captains. The two have no business maneuvering our sea vessels. Not even in operating an outrigger banca. They should be punished for their attitude and be given licenses only to operate a tricycle.

On Saturday night, a roll on-roll off (RORO) passenger vessel capsized off Verde Island in Batangas, killing six persons. At least 22 remained missing as of press time, 63 passengers and crew members have been rescued.

The roro allegedly sailed faster than what it was allowed and met its fate when huge waves started pounding on the its dilapidated structure and water sipped in. The vessel sank in just a few minutes.

Looking at the picture of the roro before it sank, I can say that the vessel was way old to sail. An old man cannot brave huge wave, much more swim in turbulent sea waters. It is just like a vessel. Why force an old boat to sail even if we know it could sink with huge waves? I remember reading a newspaper columnist who described our sea vessels as floating coffins. I so agree and I thank our airline moguls for introducing cheap fares, giving me reason not to travel via boat.

Maybe it's about time we transfer the offices of Coast Guard or Marina or other agencies involved in issuing permits to vessels to any of the sailing vessels in the country. Let their offices be in one of those dilapited boats and give our officials a hands-on experience with the turbulent seas. Maybe this will give them reasons to be stricter in their inspection of our sea vessels and cancel the permits of those that are no longer sea-worthy.

I don't know if these officials have boarded any of those vessels in one of their trips.

Boxing is a physical sports. It involves two players punching each other inside the square ring until one of them kisses the canvass, pass out, and sleep longer than the ref's 10 counts. So when Floyd Mayweather (the senior and the junior) started talking trash and accused Manny Pacquiao of doping, I started to think that Floyd (the junior) is really feeling chicken about fighting the Filipino boxing icon.

The Mayweather camp is just making up stories to discredit Pacquiao and blame the dope if in case Floyd kisses the canvass during their fight. The Mayweather camp is really not keen on slugging it out with the Filipino boxer and are making up stories so they will have reasons not to fight Pacquiao.

A great boxer lets his punches do the talking and Mayweather seems to be otherwise. What are they scared of? Why do they have to do all those accuses against the pound-for-pound king instead of just leveling it up on the boxing ring? A chicken does create noise when it is scared. Mayweather is the best example.